Magazine and feed means for stapling machines



1955 H. w. MARANO MAGAZINE AND FEED MEANS FOR STAPLING MACHINES 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 17, 1953 ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1955 H. w.MARANO MAGAZINE AND FEED MEANS FOR STAPLING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed Feb. 17, 1955 INVENTOR A E/PEERTM MFR/7N0 f Mm...ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1955 w, MARANQ 2,719,295

MAGAZINE AND FEED MEANS FOR STAPLING MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 17,1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HERBERT W. MflRflA/O ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent MAGAZINE AND FEED MEANS FOR STAPLING MACHINES Herbert W.Marano, Summit, N. J., assignor to Wilson- Jones Company, Chicago, 11].,a corporation of Massachusetts Original application February 17, 1953,.Serial. No. 337,328. Divided an'dthis application November 17, 1953,Serial No. 392,575

7 Claims. (Cl. 1-49) The present invention'relates generally to' animproved fastener driving'device, and it relates in particular to animprovedportable, hand-operated devicewhich will drive a single fastenersuch as a staple, or'th'e like, from apreformed cohered 'strip of suchfasteners into wood, cardboard, plastic or other materials. The wordstaple as hereinused 'will indicate fasteners of that generaltype. The'present application is a division of my co'-pending appIicationSerialNo. 337,328, filed February 17, 1953.

Hand-operated stapling machines of the general type with whih thepresent invention is concerned are Widely usedg' and co'nsistgene'rallyof a spring-loaded plunger or ratn having a depending staple-drivingblade movable a1ong a"predetermined path, a magazine for holding a stripofstaples with the foremost staple-in the'path' of the driving blade,and a hand-operated'mechanism for retracting and'releasing thespring-loaded plunger whereby to effect thc staple driving stroke.

The conventional heavy duty stapling gun of the aforementioned type is ahighly inefficient machine, inflexible, expensive to fabricate, subjectto excessive wear, and diffi'cult'to operate and service; Theinefiiciencyofthe con venti'onal gun tacker has been found to bedirectly atti'ib'utable to' the eccentricity existing between the lineof force of the energy storing plunger'driving spring and the line offorce exerted by the plunger retractingand'spring lo'a'ding" element.The torque imparted to the plunger as a result of this eccentricityaccounts for a major part ofthe energy expended in loading the drivingspring'and is dissipated infrictionallosses, which in turn greatlycontribute to the excessive wear of the stapling device and demands anexpenditure of much more energy on the part of the operator than shouldbe necessary in employing the stapling gun.

Another disadvantage encountered'in the conventional un tacker is itslimitation to use with only one size staple, or its limitation within anextremely small range of sizes. The spring loading and actuatingmechanism is such that the energy stored in the spring during eachdriving stroke is normally fixed and unalterable. The gun tackerrequires a major conversion in order to read justor change the amount ofenergy stored'in the driving spring during the stapling cycle. Thedrawbacks of this construction are readily apparent in view of the factthat it is often desirable to switch from one size staple to another andto apply the staples todiiferent types of materials. Moreover, theoptimum'drive applied to the staples varies with the staple size and thematerial to which they are applied, and conventional devices make noprovision for varying readily the driving force. Another undesirablecharacteristic of the conventional'gun tacker is the tendency of thestaples in the magazine to jam. The guide which accommodates the stripof staples has upper confronting walls which are, of necessity, spaced'adistance at least as large as the greatest diameter of" the wire formingthe staples. Since the diameter of this wire varies, it often happensthat the staple'strip pusher causes staples of lesser diameter wire tomount 2. each other and jam the guide'way. Increasing the strength ofthe pusher spring is of no help since it merely further aggravatesthejamming.

Typical of the difiiculties met in the manufacture of the conventionalgun tacker'is' the fabrication of thestaple exit guide. This guide,being subject to the maximum wear and abrasion, must be heat treated forreasonable service. However, since this guide is generally formedintegral with the lower channel member of the gun tacker, its properhardeningwithout disturbing the channel' member is a majorproblem anddifficult of proper attainment without a large'percentage'of rejects.There are many other drawbacks'and disadvantages encountered in theconventional staple gun tacker in spite of the fact that this deviceis'universally and widely employed, and much effort has been expended inits development.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention' toprovide an improved fastener driving device.

Another object of the'present invention is to provide an' improvedportable hand-operated staple gun tacker.

Still' another objectof the present invention is to provide an improvedstaple gun tacker requiring a minimum of manual effort in its operation.

A further object of'the present invention is to provide an improvedstaple gun tacker'having a staple driving mechanism which is highlyeflicient'in the transmission of'the energy expended by the operator inrelation to the driving of the staple.

Stilla'further object of; the present invention is to provide animprovedstaple' gun tacker which is capable of handling staples of alarge range of sizes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved staplegun tacker in which the force im parted'to the staples maybe easily andsimply manually adjusted.

Still'anoth'efobject of the present invention is to provide'an" improvedmagazine for the strip of 'cohered staples in which the jamming of thestaples iseliminated.

Afurthero'bjectofthe present'invention is to providean'improved'stapl'e' gun tacker having a staple loading mechanismwhichpermits the rapid andsimple insertion of a strip' of staples.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide animprovedstaple gun tacker having a novel staple exit channel'whichgreatly facilitates the fabrication thereof.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent'from a readingof the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an exploded viewillustrating in perspective the'various components entering into theassembly of an improved 'stap'le'gu'n tacker in accordance withthe'presentinvention;

Figure'2'is a side transverse sectional view of the staple gun tacker inuncooked condition.

Figure 3 is a side transverse sectional View of the forward portion ofthe staple gun tacker in fully cooked con dition immediately precedingthe release of the staple driving plunger;

Figure 4 is aside detail view, partially in section and partially brokenaway, of the staple'magazine'and opening and loading mechanismillustrated in open position;

Figure 5 is a side elevational' view of theimproved staple gun tacker innorm'al-uncock'ed operative position;

Figure 6 is aside elevational view of the tacker showing the handlein-the magazine opening position;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7' of Figure 2"showingthe driving force adjusting element in the high energy position;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 3 showingthe driving force adjusting element in the low energy position;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along line 99 of Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10--10 of Figure 2; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along line 1111 of Figure 2.

A staple gun tacker embodying features of the present invention includesa main body or frame member having an actuating handle hinged to itsupper front edge, a staple magazine housing hinged to its lower rearedge and a channel shaped member secured to its front and defining ahousing and guide for the staple driving plunger and spring. Slidablysupported in the front channel is a plunger or ram having a horizontalshoulder and a depending driving blade which rides along the inner frontface of the channel. An energy storing compression spring is confinedbetween the upper face of the ram shoulder and a vertically spaced shelfand urges the plunger to its lowermost or advanced position. The plungercocking and releasing mechanism comprises a horizontally hinged liftinglever whose free end engages the bottom face of the ram shoulder at apoint colinear with the line of force of the ram driving spring, thelever having a longitudinal slot formed therein. A fulcrum is pivotallymounted in the upper part of the frame member and supports at its frontend a depending cocking member terminating in a pointed end topped atits forward edge by a recessed portion defining a hook above which theedge inclines rearwardly defining a cam surface. The cocking memberregisters with the lifting lever slot, the hook normally engaging thefront edge of said slot. The rear end of the fulcrum is link-connectedto the actuating handle.

A vertically stepped triggering element is slidably supported by theframe in confronting relation to the front edge of the cocking member sothat different portions of the trigger may be brought into alignmentwith the cocking element whereby to trigger the cocking mechanism atpreselected points in its stroke and hence impart varying driving forcesto the plunger as will be described in detail. A channel shaped stapleguide is disposed on the base of the magazine housing and engages aslidable staple pusher which is urged forward by spring means. Anelongated staple retaining element is hinged at its rear to the lowerportion of the frame at a point intermediate the ends of the frame andterminates at its front end in depending rearwardly facing hooks whichslide along the base of the magazine housing and may engage tabsprojecting laterally from the staple pusher. Spring means urge thestaple retainer downwardly whereby to confine the staples stored on thestaple guide. The forward side walls of the magazine housing areprovided with elevated portions having forwardly directed recessesformed therein which, when the housing is in closed posi tion, areengaged by a latch member consisting of an apertured plate slidablysupported in the frame and having laterally projecting locking tabsextending through corresponding slots in the frame side walls. The latchmember is spring-urged to the locked position, and the aperture thereinregisters with the pointed end of the cocking member which, whendepressed by the raising of the actuating handle, travels between thefront edge of the aperture and a rearwardly disposed stop, urging thelatch member to its forward open position and releasing the magazinehousing. The magazine housing swings downwardly as does the stapleretaining member, the hooked ends of which engage the staple pushercarrying it to its retracted position and facilitating the loading of astrip of staples. Upon closing of the magazine housing, the staples areurged forward so that the foremost staple is brought against the drivingblade and into its path upon the cocking of the plunger. An aperture isformed in the front bottom wall of the magazine housing and defines astaple exit opening. A hardened staple exit channel is positioned abovethis opening and receives the brunt of the driving cycle.

Reference is now made to the drawings which illustrate a preferredembodiment of the present invention wherein the numerals 12, 12generally designate a pair of laterally spaced, symmetrical side wallshaving abutting upper and rear inwardly directed flanges 13, andopposing oval shaped openings 14, in which is positioned a finger grip16 formed of rubber or other suitable material. The side walls 12, whichdefine a supporting frame, have upper and lower projecting portions 17and 18 respectively, which extend into and between side walls 19 of afront channel member 20 abutting said side walls and are secured theretoby means of the suitable screw and spacer assemblies illustrated, whichpass through and are located between corresponding aligned holes formedin the channel side walls 19, and the frame member projections 17 and18. Hinged to the lower rear corner of the frame member is a bottommagazine housing channel 21, having a pair of rear upwardly directedtabs 22, which embrace the lower rear corners of the side walls 12, andhave holes formed therein aligned with corresponding holes formed in theside walls 12, said holes being secured by a suitable post fastener 23.The forward end of channel 21 has a front wall 24, the upper edge ofwhich abuts the front lower edge of the front channel member 20 when themagazine channel is in closed position, and also has a pair of upwardlydirected front tabs 26, whose forward edges fit into the confrontinglower corner edges of channel 20 when the magazine channel 21 is closed.Also formed in the matching portions of the channel walls 19 and tabs26, are recesses 27 and 28 respectively which define a continuous slot.A rectangular opening 29 is formed in the front of the bottom wall ofthe magazine channel 21. An actuating handle 30, having dependinglaterally spaced side walls 32, is hinged to the frame 12 by means of apost screw assembly 33 passing through holes formed in the front portionof the handle side walls 32 and corresponding openings formed in theframe projections 17 and front channel side walls 19, the front portionof the handle side walls embracing the upper portion of the frontchannel side walls 19.

A plunger 26 is vertically slidably disposed in the front channel 20,and includes a ram 37 and a depending driving blade 38. The ram 37 isformed of a sheet of metal and has a front wall 39, side walls orgussets 40, a bottom wall 41 formed of the inwardly directed tabs of thefront wall 39 and gussets 40, and a rear wall formed of a furtherextension of the front wall tab. The tabs forming the ram bottom wall 41are secured by a centrally located rivet 42. Projecting forwardly fromthe upper portion of the ram front wall 39 are a pair of horizontallyspaced detents 43 which bear against the upper edge of the dependingdriving blade 38 secured to the ram front wall 39 by suitable rivets330. It should be noted that the plunger is guided by a pair of inwardlydirected ribs 44 formed in the front wall of channel 20 and the forwardvertical edges 46 of the frame wall 12.

Located in the upper end of the channel 20 is a shelf 47 having lateralextensions 48 registering with corresponding slots 49 formed in theupper projecting portions 17, 17 of frame walls 12. Depending centrallyfrom the shelf 47 is a spring-engaging stud having a stepped cylindricalhead 50. A pair of concentric helical compression drive springs 50a, 5%are entrapped between the underside of shelf 47 and the upper face ofthe ram bottom wall 41, urging the plunger 36 to its lowermost oradvanced position. The upper ends of the springs 50a, 50b engage thestud stepped head 50, the springs 50a, 50b, the head 50 and the rivet 42being coaxially disposed. A torsion spring 51, whose arms bear againstthe cross wall of handle 30 and the upper face of shelf 47, is mountedon the bolt 33 and urges the handle 30 to its normal intermediateposition, see Figure 2.

The plunger actuatinglmechanism includes 'a lifting lever 52 ofchannelfshaped cross section:having'rearwardly extending vertical tabsprovided with aligned openings engaging a bolt 52a hich'is supported bythe frame walls 12 and, in turn, rotatably-supports the lifting lever52. The front end of .thelifting'lever 52 has a forwardly projectingarmsiafhaving'a convex upper face which engages substantiallyth'e centerof the head of the rivet42. The horizontal wall of the lever 2has alongitudinal slot 54 formed therein. Positioneddirectly below thelifting lever arm 53 is a cushion assembly consisting of a pair ofsuperimposed plates 56, ,thelateral'ends of which engage and extend intocorrespondinghorizontal slots 57 formed in the front channel side walls;19 .flush with the outer margins thereof, and a rubber pad 58 mountedatop the plates 56, the assembly being secured by a rivet 59. It shouldbe noted that the liftinglever, cushion assembly, driving blade andplunger, and the driving spring mechanism are so: dimensioned.anddisposed that the lower edge of the blade38isat the level of the loweredge of the magazine channel front wall 24 when the mechanism is in itsnormal at rest position.

In order to effect the staple drivingfstroke, there is provided a pairof horizontally spaced parallel fulcrum arms 60 which are rotatablysupported between the upper parts of the frame walls 12by means of ascrew post 61 passing through aligned holes formedbetween the ends ofarms 60 and in the framewalls 12. Therear ends of the arms 60areiconnected through a suitable pivot and spacer and by links 63" to ascrew post 64-supported by the side walls of the actuating handle 30.Hinged to and depending from. the'forwardends of the arms 60 is acocking member 66, which is positioned intermediate the arms 60 by meansof suitable spacers engaging a pin 67 which registers with holes. formedin the upper part of cockingmember 66 and the forwardpart of the arms60. A torsion spring 68, mounted about the post 61, has its armsconfined between the lower edges'of arms 60 and the rear edge ofcocking'member 66 to swing the lower end of the member 66 forwardly. Thecocking member 66 terminates at. its lowerfree end in a point defined bya front inclined cam edge 69 and a back inclined cam edge 70. Above thefront cam edge 69 and separated therefrom by a recessed portion 71defining a hook, is an upwardly, rearwardly inclined .cam edge 72.

In normal inoperative position, the lower end of the cocking member 66passes through the slot 54 in the lifting lever 52, the hook 71 engagingthe front edge of the slot 54. An adjustable triggering element 73 isprovided, having a transverse arm provided with upper and lower steppedbottom edges 74and 76 respectively, and rearwardly extending finger tabs77," and is transversely slidably supported by rectangular verticallyextending recesses 78 formed in the frame face forward edges 46. Aspring member 79, supported on: the front channel walls 19 by a suitablepost 79a, resilientlyretains the member 73 in the recesses 78. Whilethelower edge of triggering element 73 is illustratedas having but twosteps, this'edge may have a larger number of steps or be inclined, aswill be readily understood from the foregoing.

Disposed invand secured to the bottom wall of the magazine channel 21is-a channel-shaped staple guide 80, whose upwardly directed side walls81 have parallel longitudinal slots 82 formed therein. The forward endsof the guide side walls 81 have depending legs 83 which overhang therear wall ofthe 0pening29 and extend to the lower edge thereof, Anapertured upright tab 84 is positioned at the frontend of'the stapleguide bottom wall, the other end of which is provided with .a rearwardlyextending portion terminating in an upright tab 86 having a horizontalslot formed therein. A pusher member 88, having depending side wallsprovided with longitudinal slots 89, slidably straddles the guide 80,the slots 89 being aligned with the guide slots82. The pusher member 88is also provided with horizontal cross walls, the rear one of which hasasdependin g apertured tab 90. A cross bar 91, having a longitudinaltubular guide opening 92, is positioned in the guide and pusher 88,projecting laterally through and beyond the aligned slots 82 and 89. Aguide rod 94 passes through the openings in tabs 34, 86 and 90, and thepusher tubular opening 92, and has its flattened rear end upset at tab86 to complete the assembly, Mounted on, and coaxial with, the guide rod94 is a helical compression spring 96 confined between the confrontingfaces of guide tab 86 and pusher tab to urge the pusher 88 toitsadvanced position.

A staple-retaining and pusher-retracting member 100 of inverted channelshape is provided, and has an upper wall 101 and depending side walls102 adapted to straddle the pusher member 88 and nest in the magazinechannel 21. The staple retaining member 100 is hinged to and between thelower portions of frame walls 12 by means of a screw post 100a passingthrough aligned openings formed in upward extensions 103 to the rearportions of side walls 102 and corresponding openings formed in theframe walls 12. The front ends of side walls 162 are provided withforwardly projecting shanks 104 terminating in depending rearwardly openbooks 106 which ride along the inner longitudinal bottom edges of thechannel 21 and are adapted to engage the portions of the pusher bar 91projecting beyond the pusher slots 89. Furthermore, a rearwardly flangedupright tab 107 is positioned towards the back edge of the confiningmember upper wall 101. V

A latch or locking member 110 of horizontal platelike configuration isslidably supported at the level of the recess 27 formed in the frontchannel side walls 19 by means of a plurality of laterally projectingtabs 112, 111, 112 slidably engaging a similar number of slots 113 oflonger extent formed in the frame side walls 12. The centermost tabs 111project through their associated slots 11?: beyond the outer faces ofside walls 12, whereas the front and rear tabs 112 only extend to theplane of these faces. Formed in the latch member 110, in vertic'alalignment with the cocking member 66, is a longitudinal rectangularaperture 114, the forward edge of which is provided with an upwardlyrearwardly inclined tab 116. A stop member 117 is disposed directlyabove the locking member 118 and is supported in fixed position by meansof a pair of laterally extending ears 118 engaging correspondingopenings 118a in the frame side walls 12. The forward edge of the stopmember 117 is provided with a forwardly inclined depending tab 117aprojecting into the locking member aperture 114 at a point intermediatethe ends thereof in locked position. A pair of helical tension springs119 engage at one end openings 120 formed in the rear portion of lockingmember 110 and at the other end a pin 121 supported by holes formed inthe upper corners of retaining member side wall extensions 103. Thesprings 119 are normally upwardly deflected from their straight linepath by the retaining member upright 107 and serve the multiple purposeof urging the locking member 117 to its close position and the confiningmember 100 downwardly and counterclockwise, as seen in Figure 4.

A channel shaped staple exit member 122 is formed of a hardened steeland is disposed at the forward end of the magazine channel 21,registering with the exit aperture 29. The forward wall 123 of the exitmember abuts the inner face of the magazine channel front wall 24 and isprovided at its upper edge with a forwardly projecting lug 126 whichabuts the upper edgeof channel front wall 24 and registers with a recess127 formed in the lower edge of the front wall of front channel member20. The rear portion of the side walls of the staple exit member isdirected laterally arcuately outwardly and forcibly engages theconfronting rear edge of magazine channel aperture 29. Projectingvertically from the side walls of the exit channel are tabs128 whichextend above the corresponding edges of the magazine channel side walls.The staple exit member 122 is hardened prior to assembly and, due to itsconfiguration, distortion will be outward which is favorable since apreloaded condition is set up when it is assembled into forward end ofmagazine channel 21. The curved end faces of the member 122 abutting therear edge of aperture 29 secures it therein, correcting an inwarddistortion that might manifest itself after the heat treating process.In the exceptional case, where the distortion of the side walls ofmember 122 is laterally outward, then the side walls of the magazinechannel 21 will forcibly engage the exit member side walls suitably,preloading the same. Moreover, the abutting faces of the walls 24 and123 are secured by a tack weld. It should be noted that the forwardvertical edges of the staple guide 81 are spaced from the inner face ofthe wall 123 of exit member 122 a distance sufficient to permit easypassage of the driving blade 33.

Considering now the operation of the improved stapling gun; in order toload the gun, the actuating handle is raised in the direction of thearrow, Figure 6, causing the fulcrum arm to rotate counterclockwise. Thepoint of the depending cocking member 66 is thereby forced downwardlyinto the aperture 114 of the locking member 116. The locking memberlower forward cam edge 69 engages the tab 116 and the rear cam edge 70engages the stop tab 117 urging the locking member forward and thelocking tabs 111 from the close position in the recesses 28 to theiropen position out of these recesses and into the adjacent recesses 27.The springs 119, acting through the staple retaining member 100, swingthe magazine channel 21 to its fully open position as seen in Figure 4,the lower edges of hooks 166 riding along the bottom wall of themagazine channel 21. As the magazine channel 21 is swung outwardly, thehooks 1.66 engage the laterally projecting portions of the pusher bar 91withdrawing the staple pusher member 88 to its retracted position andcompressing the feed spring 96. A strip of staples may then be placed onthe staple guide 86, and the magazine channel thereafter swung to itsclosed position, the locking tabs engaging the locking recesses 28. Thehooked ends 106 of the retaining member are thus returned to the forwardend of the magazine channel 21, allowing the pusher member 88 to slideforward, engaging the rear staple of the strip and, by virtue of thespring 96, urging the strip of staples forward and the foremost stapleagainst the inner face of the driving blade 33. The springs 1119, actingon the upright 197, urge the confining member 100 downwardly, whichmaintains a pressure on the top side or bridge of the staples whenloaded on the staple guide and thereby greatly inhibits the jamming ofthe staples.

In performing the stapling operation, the actuating handle 30 is presseddownwardly toward the frame member 12, thereby rotating the fulcrum arms60 clockwise, as

seen in Figure 3, and raising the cocking member 66.

The hooked portion 71 of the cocking member 66 passing through liftinglever slot 54, engages the lower face of the lifting lever 52 androtates the lifting lever 52. clockwise about pin 52a. The forward edge53 of the lifting lever 52, acting on the rivet head 42, raises theplunger 37 and, as the lower edge of the driving blade 33 is elevatedabove the level of the strip of staples, the foremost staple is advancedinto the vertical path of the driving blade 38 under the urging ofspring 96. In the raising of the plunger 36, the energy storing springs51 are compressed and loaded. As the fulcrum arm 66 is rotated clockwiseand the cocking member 66 thereby raised, the forward upper earn edge 72of the cocking member comes into contact with and engages the lower edge74 or 76, as the case may be, of the triggering element 73. Thetriggering element lower edge, acting on the cam edge 72 (see Figure 3),swings the cocking lever 66 rearwardly as it is raised until the forwardedge of the hook portion thereof is retracted beyond the forward edge ofthe slot 54 in the lifting lever 52, releasing the lifting lever 52 andthe plunger 36. The loaded spring is thus permitted to expand and sendthe plunger forcibly downwardly, the blade 38 engaging the bridge of thestaple in its path, shearing it from the cohered strip and driving ithome. The shock of the descending plunger and lifting lever is cushionedby the rubber pad 58.

After the completion of the staple driving stroke, the handle 30 isreleased and the entire mechanism returned to the starting position, asshown in Figure 2, being urged thereto by the springs 51 and 68.

It should be pointed out that when the triggering element is in theposition shown in Figure 7, the higher stepped edge 74 engages thecocking member cam surface 72 and releases the plunger when it has beenraised to a greater height than when the triggering element is in theposition shown in Figure 8 and the lower edge 76 engages the cam surface72. Since, in the former case, more compression is imparted to thesprings 51 and hence more energy, a heavier driving stroke is effectedwhen the triggering element is in the position illustrated in Figure 7,and a lighter stroke is effected when the triggering element is in theposition shown in Figure 8. It is also important to observe that sincethe lifting lever 52 engages the ram 37 at a point and in a directioncolinear with the axis of the compression springs 51, there is a minimumof torque and hence an increase in energy efliciency and a decrease inthe frictional wear due to the wasted energy dissipated as a result ofthis torque.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, it is apparent that numerous alternations andomissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A stapling device of the character described, comprising a bodymember, a staple magazine pivoted to said body member and swingablebetween open and closed positions and adapted to support therein alongitudinally extending stack of staples, a pusher member coacting withsaid magazine and longitudinally movable therealong between advanced andretracted positions, spring means urging said pusher member toward itsadvanced position, a staple retaining member movable between a closedposition directly overlying and extending along said stack of staplesand an open position exposing the interior of said magazine to permitthe loading thereof, and means urging said staple retaining member toclosed position upon the swinging of said magazine to its closedposition and urging said staple retaining member to open position uponthe opening of said magazine.

2. A stapling device in accordance with claim 1, including spring meansurging said staple retaining member when in closed position toward saidmagazine.

3. A stapling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said stapleretaining member is provided with means for engaging and retracting saidpusher member when said staple magazine is swung to its open positionand disengaging said pusher member when said magazine is swung to itsclosed position.

4. A stapling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said stapleretaining member is provided with a forwardly directed shank terminatingin a depending rearwardly open hook and said pusher member has alaterally projecting element, said hook being movable along the path ofsaid pusher projecting element and engaging said element and retractingsaid pusher when said magazine is swung to open position and disengagingsaid laterally projecting element when said magazine is swung to closedposition.

5. A stapling device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said stapleretaining member is pivoted at a point forward of its rear end to saidbody member and at a point forward of the pivot point of said magazinewith its forward end slidable along said magazine.

6. A stapling device in accordance with claim 5, in-

9 cluding spring means urging the forward end of said staple retainingmember toward said magazine when in closed position.

7. A stapling device in accordance with claim 5, including a helicaltension spring engaging said staple retaining member at a pointrearwardly of its pivot point and engaging said body member at a pointforward of said pivot point, said staple retaining member being providedwith an upwardly projecting ear forward of said pivot point and disposedto engage the bottom of said helical spring when said staple retainingmember is in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,285,384 Schott June 9, 1942 10 Kipp Dec. 17, 1946 Percoco Sept. 9,1947 Peterson Dec. 23, 1947 Maynard Mar. 30, 1948 Linstrom Feb. 8, 1949Maynard Apr. 5, 1949 Nyberg May 8, 1951 Nyberg Jan. 6, 1953 Morano Jan.13, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany July 1, 1942

